DPW return to office Forum

[jotarokujo]

Curious to know if people are more or less inclined to take a vacation if they know they're "paying" for it? I was in a tough financial situation at one point and made the hard decision to forego vacation so I could get paid. Now I have unlimited vacation and I use it way more liberally because I know I'm hitting my max salary.

Most places limit the amount of vacation you can save unused (like a months worth), so you’re incentivized to use your vacation days or lose them.

yeah but then doesnt the situation basically become like what it is for unlimited folks? the firm tries to get you to not take vacation because you can't save more than a month anyways.

the good thing about unlimited is that, yeah you have even more incentive to go on your 20 days because you will get nothing otherwise, and if the firm tries to stop you they are directly taking away from your comp unlike if they paid out. of course it's on the associate to be assertive about it but that's the theory anyways

[Anonymous User]

Does DPW actually limit vacation days? I thought nearly all firms were on a "unlimited vacation so long as you hit your billables" policy.

Official policy is 20 days for first to fourth year associates and 25 days for fifth year and above

Huh, this thread is interesting. At my law school DPW had the reputation of being the "cool" white shoe firm but this wfh policy and the vacation policy are awful. Like, strictly worse than peer firms awful.

I’m not a DPW associate - but felt compelled to reply that having a set number vacation days is WAY BETTER than an “unlimited” policy.

For one, people with “unlimited” vacation hardly take more than 15-20 days off a year anyway, but more importantly - you don’t accrue vacation time and there is nothing to pay out when you leave the firm (since, it’s technically “unlimited”). When I left my last firm, they had to pay me a month and a half worth of salary that I’d accrued in vacation and unused over a few years.

Also not at DPW but at a firm with a similar policy: I have taken 100% of my vacation every year while my friends at “unlimited” firms end up taking way less. Unlimited vacation is a scam

I agree. I'm at a firm with "unlimited vacation". I take like maybe 10 days a year at most. I take 1 full week spring/summer time. Then I take 1 week during Christmas Holidays/New Years (which honestly isn't a real vacation anyway). So, I'd more accurately say I take 5 days a year.

[Anonymous User]

Does DPW actually limit vacation days? I thought nearly all firms were on a "unlimited vacation so long as you hit your billables" policy.

Official policy is 20 days for first to fourth year associates and 25 days for fifth year and above

Huh, this thread is interesting. At my law school DPW had the reputation of being the "cool" white shoe firm but this wfh policy and the vacation policy are awful. Like, strictly worse than peer firms awful.

I’m not a DPW associate - but felt compelled to reply that having a set number vacation days is WAY BETTER than an “unlimited” policy.

For one, people with “unlimited” vacation hardly take more than 15-20 days off a year anyway, but more importantly - you don’t accrue vacation time and there is nothing to pay out when you leave the firm (since, it’s technically “unlimited”). When I left my last firm, they had to pay me a month and a half worth of salary that I’d accrued in vacation and unused over a few years.

Also not at DPW but at a firm with a similar policy: I have taken 100% of my vacation every year while my friends at “unlimited” firms end up taking way less. Unlimited vacation is a scam

I agree. I'm at a firm with "unlimited vacation". I take like maybe 10 days a year at most. I take 1 full week spring/summer time. Then I take 1 week during Christmas Holidays/New Years (which honestly isn't a real vacation anyway). So, I'd more accurately say I take 5 days a year.

Limited vacation firms (like and especially DPW) tend to respect your vacation much more. They schedule someone to take your spot on deals so you aren't dealing with calls for the whole week of your vacation.

[jotarokujo]

the problem with unlimited vacation firms is that they shift the burden to the associate to affirmatively take their days. for every associate who takes more than the market 20 days there are 5 who take fewer. it's good for those aggressive associates, bad for everyone else

[Anonymous User]

I'm at an unlimited and take 4 week long vacations a year and I'm assertive about it and always say that I will be somewhere without reception but im also not gunning for partner and my peers shit talk me for it because they end up picking up the slack.

[Anonymous User]

Is there a stigma against taking full advantage of a vacation policy (like 15-20 days per year) in years 1-3 as a junior associate? Are there any negative repercussions, e.g., automatically takes you off partner track? (Curious about DPW in particular, but also in general.)

[jotarokujo]

I'm at an unlimited and take 4 week long vacations a year and I'm assertive about it and always say that I will be somewhere without reception but im also not gunning for partner and my peers shit talk me for it because they end up picking up the slack.

do you find that you actually change where you go based on wanting no reception or is it just straight bull? i feel like most places most people want to vacation wouldn't have reception but just curious

[Anonymous User]

Is there a stigma against taking full advantage of a vacation policy (like 15-20 days per year) in years 1-3 as a junior associate? Are there any negative repercussions, e.g., automatically takes you off partner track? (Curious about DPW in particular, but also in general.)

former dpw associate - the answer is no.

[bigboybob]

Can we all just appreciate Gibson's WFH policy for a moment?

[lawdude31]

Can we all just appreciate Gibson's WFH policy for a moment?

YES!

[cisscum]

Can we all just appreciate Gibson's WFH policy for a moment?

What is it

[bigboybob]

"Do whatever you think is appropriate. You're an adult. If working remote works for you, great do it."